Away From Home

February 25, 2005

Plant Society Symposium

Using perennials to create color in your garden from spring to frost is the subject of Leo Blanchette's presentation at the Hardy Plant Society's Spring Symposium next month. The symposium, ``Marching Toward Spring,'' will be at Comstock, Ferre & Co. in Wethersfield March 5 at 10 a.m. Blanchette, a garden lecturer and writer, tends more than 400 feet of display borders. The second speaker, Keith Davitt, a garden writer, lecturer and landscape design teacher, will talk about creating outdoor living spaces. The fee is $20 for members of the society and $25 for non-members. Included will be a casual buffet lunch and presentations by local plant societies.

New England Flower Show

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society will present the New England Spring Flower Show at Boston's Bayside Expo Center March 12 to 20.

The show, with more than 5 acres of exhibit space, will include 50 gardens designed by local, national and international landscape professionals. The event will include amateur competitions, 250 vendors, lectures and demonstrations.

Hours are Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 (weekend) and $17 (weekday) for adults; $14 for seniors; $7 for children 4 to 12; free for younger children. Tickets are $2 less in advance at www.masshort.org.

The Bayside Expo Center is off Exit 15 on I-93 on the Southeast Expressway.